SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1984
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STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VIRAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES HAD BEEN INCREASING STEADILY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
+FOR INSTANCE, 167 CASES OF VIRAL HEPATITIS WERE REPORTED IN APRIL, COMPARED WITH 92 CASES IN JANUARY, 96 IN FEBRUARY AND 148 IN MARCH,+ HE SAID.
+THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO REPORT OF CHOLERA CASES IN HONG KONG SINCE OCTOBER 1982, THE PUBLIC SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE DISEASE WHICH IS ENDEMIC IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
MEANWHILE, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE NOTIFIABLE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES HAVE REMAINED AT ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OVER THE PAST YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING WITH ITS HEALTH EDUCATION AND IMMUNISATION PROGRAMMES.
HOWEVER, THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PREVENTION
THE IS TO OBSERVÉ PERSONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD HYGIENE, SPOKESMAN SAID.
AS MOST GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES ARE TRANSMITTED THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE SPECIALLY CAREFUL IN THEIR EATING HABITS, HE SAID.
ALL TYPES OF FOOD SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY COOKED AND SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNCOVERED IF IT IS NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.
HE SAID THAT WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE MAINS IS PURE AND SAFE FOR DRINK ING, BUT WATER FROM TANKS MAY BE CONTAMINATED AND SHOULD BE BOILED BEFORE CONSUMPTION.
+WATER FROM STREAMS AND WELLS IS ALSO NOT SUITABLE FOR DRINKING, + HE ADDED.
IMPROVED DESIGN FOR HOS BLOCKS
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THE Y SHAPE HOUSING BLOCKS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT MAY SHING COURT IN SHATIN INCORPORATE THE LATEST SOLUTION TO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG.
HOUSING DEPARTMENT ARCHITECT MR JOHN NG DESIGNED THE BLOCKS TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING THIRTY YEARS OF HONG KONG PUBLIC HOUSING.
THE UNITS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM USE OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE, WHILE AVOIDING THE PROBLEM - COMMON TO BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ESTATES OF PEOPLE LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO EACH OTHER'S WINDOW.
THE BLOCKS HAVE ALSO BEEN POSITIONED TO ENSURE THAT MOST RESIDENTS ENJOY AN UNINTERRUPTED VIEW. THE Y SHAPE PROVIDES THE UTMOST ECONOMY IN SPACE WASTED ON ACCESS AND UTILITIES.
/IT IS